Australias-Counter-Terrorism-Strategy-2015

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4. DISRUPTINGTERRORIST ACTIVITYWITHIN AUSTRALIAWe are doing everything possible to preventindividuals from radicalising towards violentextremism. However, no matter how effectiveour programmes are in this regard, somepeople will still plan to commit an act ofterrorism. Our law enforcement andintelligence agencies are well-equipped todisrupt terrorists and have been successful indisrupting numerous terrorist plots to date.Protecting lives is our absolute priority. Tosave lives, agencies will prioritise earlydisruption of a planned attack over thegathering of evidence for a successfulprosecution. This is why those arrested canoften be released without charges shortlythereafter: police will always place publicsafety ahead of securing a successfulprosecution.We can choose to disrupt activities of concernin a number of other ways. An option might beto send a message to individuals that theiractivities have attracted the attention ofauthorities, and that they are beingmonitored, in an attempt to dissuade themfrom further action. This may be done throughsuspending payment of welfare claims whereappropriate, preventing international traveldue to non-payment of tax, passport or visacancellations.When more specific information is available,agencies may also use other measures such aspreventative detention and control orders todisrupt individuals.Close operational cooperation across theCommonwealth, States and Territories,including through Joint Counter-TerrorismTeams (JCTTs) in each jurisdiction, has proveneffective in detecting and disrupting acts ofterrorism in Australia. Through COAG, Statesand Territories are also working together tostrengthen identity management and protectidentity use, and to improve the tracking offirearms and further restrict the movementand use of illegal firearms. This work willcomplement other activities to counterterrorism.The lone actor challengeLone actors operating on the periphery orindependently of known extremist networksare difficult for law enforcement andintelligence agencies to detect. The lowcapability required for attacks – a kitchenknife, for example – means there may be littletime between violent extremists formingintent and then committing an act ofterrorism.Developing disruption plansIntelligence and law enforcement agenciesgather and assess the information needed toplan disruption activities. They identifyindividuals and networks radicalising, planningattacks, supporting terrorist groups overseasor seeking to participate in foreign conflicts.Agencies then assess the threats theseindividuals or groups pose to Australia’ssecurity and may refer the case to theNational Disruption Group – a multi-agencylaw enforcement body – so that a plan todisrupt terrorist activities can be developed.14 | AUSTRALIA’S COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY
Working together – Joint Counter-Terrorism TeamsJCTTs were first established in 2002 to better coordinate Commonwealth, State and Territorycounter-terrorism investigations. They exist in each Australian jurisdiction and comprise relevantState and Territory law enforcement agencies, the AFP and ASIO. Some JCTTs also include other lawenforcement and regulatory agencies.JCTTs are flexible and adaptive multi-agency teams drawing on the expertise and special capabilitiesof their members. While each JCTT may differ in its structure and membership, they provide anationally consistent vehicle for investigating and disrupting terrorist activities in Australia.As the threat environment has evolved, JCTTs have focussed on early disruption to prevent terroristacts. Operations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2014-15 demonstrated the speed with whichJCTTs can mobilise and disrupt an attack.Australia’s counter-terrorism legislationAustralia has a strong legislative framework for countering terrorism.Australia’s national security legislation is largely a preventative regime that enables intelligence andlaw enforcement agencies to intervene at an early stage before a terrorist act occurs. In addition toengaging in a terrorist act, it is an offence to advocate, prepare, plan or train for a terrorist act. It isalso an offence to be a member of, or associate with, a terrorist organisation. Where police do nothave sufficient evidence to charge a person for one of these offences, they have special powers toprevent terrorist activities.Control orders are issued by a court to impose restrictions on individuals who are suspected ofterrorist involvement. A control order can be imposed whether or not the person has been chargedor convicted of a criminal offence. Restrictions enforced under a control order could include orders tonot contact or associate with certain individuals, or to not use certain technology such as theinternet. The use of these powers must be supported by substantial evidence.Preventative detention orders enable police to detain individuals where there is a threat of animminent terrorist attack or immediately after a terrorist attack has occurred. The maximum time aperson can be preventatively detained is 14 days.The legislative framework contains thresholds and safeguards to ensure the powers available to lawenforcement agencies are proportionate, and only used where appropriate and where there is afundamental risk to public safety. As the terrorist threat evolves and new challenges emerge, we willcontinue to review our laws and update them as needed to keep Australians as safe as possible.15 | AUSTRALIA’S COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY
Page 1: Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Str
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTSFOREWORD...................
Page 7 and 8: EXECUTIVESUMMARYIn September 2014,
Page 9: Australia may also contribute to in
Page 12 and 13: Lone actor terrorist attacks‘Lone
Page 14 and 15: 1 Note that Australians (suspected
Page 16 and 17: AUSTRALIA’SCOUNTER-TERRORISMSTRAT
Page 18 and 19: Some terrorist propaganda, such as
Page 20 and 21: 2. STOPPING PEOPLEFROM BECOMINGTERR
Page 22 and 23: 3. SHAPING THEGLOBALENVIRONMENTTerr
Page 26 and 27: Disrupting the movement of terroris
Page 28 and 29: Exercise IRON MOONIn 2013, Exercise
Page 30 and 31: Australia’s response to the 2002
Page 32: GOVERNANCE ANDACCOUNTABILITYgaps ar

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